Bottle cap

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bottle cap for attaching to the opening of a bottle, having a hollow tube and a drinking opening, which is connected to the hollow tube. Furthermore, a drinking area is provided, wherein the drinking opening is configured in the drinking area. The invention is characterized in that multiple small openings are configured in the drinking area and a liquid reservoir is provided in the bottle cap. The liquid reservoir is connected to the small openings in a fluid-tight manner. In addition, a dispensing device is provided, which dispenses a predefinable quantity of a liquid from the liquid reservoir via the small openings when activated.

The invention relates to a bottle cap for attaching to the opening of a bottle. The bottle cap has a hollow tube, which extends into the interior of the bottle. Furthermore, the bottle cap possesses a drinking opening, which is connected to the hollow tube. In addition, a drinking area is provided, the drinking opening being provided in the drinking area.

In other words, the bottle cap can be screwed on to a drinks bottle, for example. The exact design of the attachment to the bottle depends in each case on how the bottle itself is designed. If it has an external thread, for example, then the bottle cap is provided with an internal thread of complementary configuration. The hollow tube that extends into the interior of the bottle preferably reaches as far as the region of the bottle base. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case. It is also sufficient for the hollow tube to extend to the end of the bottle cap so that it is connected to the inside of the bottle. The hollow tube can also be configured in the manner of a channel, which extends e.g. from the drinking area to the bottle-side end of the bottle cap.

At the other end, the hollow tube terminates in a drinking opening, which is provided in the drinking area. This allows the liquid from the inside of the bottle to be drunk through the bottle cap.

According to current studies by the WHO, almost half of the German population can be categorized as overweight. In the USA, by the same standards, as many as 40% of the population are classified as not just overweight but obese.

One reason for this is, inter alia, the consumption of highly sweetened drinks, which entail a very high calorie intake.

While it is known that these should be avoided, e.g. by switching to water, this often involves the loss of a taste experience so that, in the problematic target group in particular, a switch is often not contemplated.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a bottle cap, the use of which can reduce calorie intake.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a bottle cap having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, in the description and in the figures and the explanation thereof.

A generic bottle cap is developed according to the invention by the provision of multiple small openings in the drinking area, which have a smaller diameter than the drinking opening. In addition, a liquid reservoir is provided in the bottle cap, which is connected to the small openings in a fluid-tight manner. In addition, a dispensing device is provided, which can likewise be arranged in the bottle cap. By means of this dispensing device, when it is activated, a predefinable quantity of a liquid is dispensed from the liquid reservoir via the small openings.

A basic concept behind the invention lies in the finding that the taste buds or gustative nerves are not active or are not passing on information to the brain all the time during drinking. The invention is thus based on the observation that, during the drinking process, information is passed from the taste buds to the brain and processed in the brain substantially only at the start and at the end. In other words, a taste experience is present substantially at the start of drinking and at the end of the drinking process.

The invention wishes to exploit this finding. According to the invention a liquid reservoir is provided in the bottle cap, in which e.g. a syrup or a liquid with a taste can be stored. This liquid can be dispensed by the dispensing device in a targeted manner via the small openings in the drinking area.

It is preferred here if the dispensing takes place at the start and/or end of drinking.

As a result of this, for example, in the bottle itself water is present, which is known to contain no calories and hardly any taste. At the start of the drinking process a small quantity, which is predefinable, is dispensed from the liquid reservoir into the mouth of the drinker by the dispensing device by means of the small openings. During this time, a taste experience is obtained. The user of the bottle cap then drinks water, during which time the taste experience continues to be present. At the end of the drinking process a predefinable quantity of liquid can again be dispensed so that the taste experience is further emphasized.

This achieves a significant reduction in the total number of calories consumed during the drinking process compared to a drinking process that takes place with e.g. a sweetened liquid. According to the invention also a mug or a cap can be considered as a bottle.

In principle the multiple small openings can be designed at will. However, it is advantageous if they are configured for atomizing the liquid. Atomizing at the start of the drinking process causes the liquid from the liquid reservoir to be distributed particularly well in the mouth of the drinker, allowing the taste experience of even a small quantity of liquid to be enhanced.

It is preferred if a stopper is provided in the drinking area for closing the opening in a fluid-tight manner, which stopper can be transferred from a closed position to an open position e.g. by a vertical and/or rotating movement. With a design of this type it is ensured that the bottle can be tightly closed using the bottle cap according to the invention, so that the liquid from the bottle as well as the liquid from the reservoir does not leak out during transport.

It is furthermore advantageous if the dispensing device can be activated when the stopper is moved from the closed position to the open position. Likewise, the dispensing device can additionally or alternatively also be activatable when the stopper is moved from the open position to the closed position.

By means of such designs the desired result can be achieved, so that at the start of the drinking process and/or at the end of the drinking process a taste experience is present for the drinker. To this end, the bottle cap according to the invention can have a pull or push/pull system which is known in particular for sports bottles. In this case, the stopper is moved vertically upwards away from the bottle body for drinking. This usually takes place by the athlete or drinker biting into the stopper and pushing the bottle away slightly. If the dispensing device is connected to the stopper, this leads to the liquid from the liquid reservoir being dispensed, and thus a taste experience being present, immediately before the liquid from the bottle itself enters the athlete's mouth.

Similarly, closure leads to a taste experience again being present for the athlete. Overall, this gives the athlete the impression that he has drunk not water but substantially the liquid that is present in the liquid reservoir.

In an alternative embodiment, a flip closure can be provided for closing the drinking area with the drinking opening and the small openings. This can preferably be configured such that it is laterally hinged. With a construction of this type it is possible for the bottle cap to have a stop for the flip closure and for the stop to be configured to activate the dispensing device on contact with the flip closure. The purpose of a design of this type is in turn that on opening, before the actual drinking process starts, a small quantity of the liquid from the liquid reservoir can be sprayed into the user's mouth via the dispensing device.

In a further embodiment, the bottle cap can be configured substantially cylindrically and can have an activating device for activating the dispensing device on its circumferential surface. Ideally the activating device is positioned and sized such that it is gripped and thus activated when the bottle is brought to the mouth. This construction again enables a small quantity of the liquid from the liquid reservoir to be sprayed into the user's mouth before the actual drinking process, i.e. the intake of the liquid from the bottle.

In a further embodiment, the dispensing device has at least one pressure chamber, which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the liquid reservoir and the small openings and is located in the dispensing path of the liquid between the liquid reservoir and the small openings. The quantity of liquid to be dispensed can be stored temporarily in this pressure chamber, so that when the stopper of the bottle cap is opened, for example, the pressure chamber is emptied, and the volume of liquid present therein is sprayed into the drinker's mouth. The provision of the pressure chamber allows a simple construction and may also serve to define the maximum quantity of the liquid from the liquid reservoir to be dispensed in a drinking process.

In this context it is preferred if the dispensing device is configured such that when the predefinable quantity of the liquid has been dispensed from the pressure chamber, this is filled up again via the dispensing device after the dispensing. As a result of this, the correct quantity is automatically already available in the pressure chamber for the next drinking process.

It has been shown that, for the predefinable quantity of the liquid dispensed by the dispensing device in one go, even extremely small quantity are sufficient to create a taste experience that is perceived by the drinker to be sufficient. It is preferred here if the quantity of liquid is around 1 ml to 10 ml, in particular 4 ml to 6 ml, and preferably 5 ml.

In principle, the dispensing device can be designed at will. A particularly simple design is possible if a pump mechanism is provided which is configured for dispensing the liquid from the liquid reservoir. If pressure chambers are provided, a transfer of the liquid from the liquid reservoir into the pressure chambers can be provided via the pump mechanism. The pump mechanism can be designed in various ways; for example, a mechanical, electrical and/or piezoelectric design is possible. The exact way in which it is designed is significantly dependent on the area of use.

If, for example, it is provided that a microcontroller is additionally installed in the bottle cap, which microcontroller can have an external communication interface, it is advantageous if the pump mechanism and/or the dispensing device itself is of an electrical design. Thus, communication with the dispensing device can be provided via the microcontroller in order to configure the dispensing device in a more detailed manner and/or to retrieve log data, e.g. on the number of drinking processes or similar.

To improve the taste experience further, more than one liquid reservoir can be provided. For example, it is possible to provide two liquid reservoirs, a liquid being dispensed from one of them at the start of the drinking process and from the other at the end of the drinking process. This is another way of influencing the taste experience of the user.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a bottle having a bottle cap according to the invention. As already explained, the bottle cap in this case is appropriately configured and sized such that it can be applied to the bottle. For example, it is possible to size the bottle cap such that it can be applied to standard PET bottles, as can be obtained commercially.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures. These show the following:

FIG. 1: a schematic view of a bottle cap according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2: a schematic view of a bottle cap according to the invention according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 3: a schematic view of a bottle cap according to the invention according to a further design.

Throughout the three figures identical parts are labelled with identical reference numbers.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a bottle cap 1 according to the invention. This is attached with an internal thread 8 to a bottle 40, which has an external thread 41.

Through the bottle cap 1 a hollow tube 3 extends into the interior of the bottle 40. This hollow tube 3 is connected at the upper end to a drinking opening 4, which is located in a drinking area 6. Below the drinking area 6, two pressure chambers 13, 14 are arranged. Below the two pressure chambers 13, 14 in turn two liquid reservoirs 21, 22 are located. A connection between the first pressure chamber 13 and the first liquid reservoir 21 is made by appropriate valves 15 on the common contact surface or dividing wall. A connection is also provided between the second pressure chamber 14 and the second liquid reservoir 22 by similar valves 15. The two pressure chambers 13, 14 furthermore have a connection to small openings 11, which serve to atomize a fluid. The small openings 11 are provided in the drinking area 6.

At the upper end of the bottle cap, a stopper 30 is configured, which is made in the form of a nipple. In principle, this has a known construction, such that when it is pulled out it exposes the drinking opening 4, such that liquid from the interior of the bottle 40 can be drunk via the drinking opening 4.

The functioning of the bottle cap 1 according to the invention will be explained in more detail below. In this context, the dispensing device, which is made up of the plurality of the parts of the bottle cap 1, will also be discussed.

In the initial state, a predefinable quantity of liquid is located in the first pressure chamber 13, whereas the second pressure chamber 14 is empty. If the stopper 30 is pulled upwards, a base of the first pressure chamber 13 likewise moves upwards. This leads to the liquid that is located in the first pressure chamber 13 being squeezed out of the small openings 11.

When the stopper 30 is pulled upwards, a dividing wall in the second pressure chamber 14 is also pushed downwards, whereby part of the liquid that is located in the second liquid reservoir 22 is transferred into the second pressure chamber 14 by the principle of communicating vessels and appropriate valves.

Once the stopper 30 is open, the user can partake of the contents of the bottle via the drinking opening 4. As soon as he closes the stopper 30, he pushes it downwards. As a consequence thereof, the base or movable wall is pushed upwards in the second pressure chamber 14 by means of a deflection, whereby the liquid from the second pressure chamber 14 is dispensed via the small openings 11. Similarly, the dividing wall is displaced downwards in the first pressure chamber 13 and as a result, liquid from the first liquid reservoir 21 is in turn transferred via the valves 15 into the first pressure chamber 14.

In principle, of course, other dispensing mechanisms are also possible, which can be implemented in a similar way by mechanical, electrical and piezoelectric means.

Thus, with the bottle cap 1 it is possible according to the invention for a specific quantity of liquid to be initially sprayed into the mouth area of a user before the drinking process is started. This results in a taste experience corresponding to the selected liquid. The actual liquid from the bottle 40 can then be drunk. This is preferably water which, as already stated, makes hardly any contribution to the taste experience during the drinking process.

When the bottle cap 1 is closed, a liquid is again sprayed from the second reservoir 22 or the second pressure chamber 14 into the user's mouth. This again enhances the taste experience and so the user is given the illusion of having drunk a liquid with the taste the whole time.

In principle, it is of course also possible to provide dispensing only on opening or only on closing. Similarly, it is not essential for two different liquid reservoirs 21, 22 to be provided.

In FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of a bottle cap 100 according to the invention is illustrated. This differs from the bottle cap 1 shown in FIG. 1 substantially by the fact that the stopper is not used for activating the dispensing device. For this purpose, a lever 135 is provided on the circumferential surface 132. This presses a pin 133 for activating the dispensing device in the region of the circumferential surface 132. In the simplest case, an appropriate excess pressure can be built up in the reservoir 21 by the lever 135, such that when the lever 135 or the pin 133 is activated, liquid is sprayed out of the small openings 11. Likewise, however, it is possible to provide a micropump here, which causes a pressure increase in the reservoir 21 as a result of the pulse triggered by the lever 135 or the pin 133, so that part of the liquid is dispensed via the small openings 11. A direct dispensing via the pump without a pressure increase in the reservoir 21 is also feasible.

In FIG. 3, a further embodiment of the bottle cap 200 according to the invention is illustrated. This has a flip closure 230. On the flip closure 230 a pin 233 is in turn provided, which interacts with a stop 231, which is provided on the circumferential surface 232, when the flip closure 230 is opened. This stop can, for example, activate a pump, which causes a dispensing of a small quantity of the liquid provided in the reservoir via the small openings 11.

In principle, various devices that are achievable in a known manner for the person skilled in the art may be considered for dispensing the liquid from the reservoir. Whether active pumping is provided by means of a mechanical or electric pump or by applying an external pressure depends in each case on the desired embodiment.

Essential to the invention, however, is the finding that the dispensing of a small portion of a liquid before and/or after drinking makes it appear to the user as if he were drinking a liquid other than water.

Thus, using the bottle cap according to the invention, the calorie intake during drinking can be reduced without significantly affecting the taste experience. 

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A bottle cap for attaching to the opening of a bottle, the bottle cap comprising: a hollow tube, which extends into the interior of the bottle, a drinking opening, which is connected to the hollow tube, a drinking area, wherein the drinking opening is provided in the drinking area, comprising: multiple small openings which are configured in the drinking area, which have a smaller diameter than the drinking opening, a liquid reservoir in the bottle cap, which is connected to the small openings, and a dispensing device, which dispenses a liquid from the liquid reservoir via the small openings when activated, wherein: the liquid reservoir is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the small openings, when activated the dispensing device dispenses a predefinable quantity of the liquid from the liquid reservoir via the small openings, and the multiple small openings are configured for atomizing the liquid.
 16. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: a stopper is provided for closing the drinking opening and the small openings in the drinking area in a fluid-tight manner, which stopper can be transferred from a closed position to an open position by means of a vertical and/or rotating movement.
 17. The bottle cap according to claim 2, wherein: the dispensing device can be activated on moving the stopper from the closed position to the open position.
 18. The bottle cap according to claim 2, wherein: the dispensing device can be activated on moving the stopper from the open position to the closed position.
 19. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: for closing the drinking area, a flip closure is provided which is laterally hinged, a stop for the flip closure is configured on the bottle cap, and the stop is configured for activating the dispensing device on contact with the flip closure.
 20. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: the bottle cap is configured cylindrically, and on a circumferential surface of the bottle cap an activating device for activating the dispensing device is configured.
 21. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: the dispensing device has at least one pressure chamber, which is provided such that it is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the liquid reservoir and the small openings in the dispensing path of the liquid.
 22. The bottle cap according to claim 7, wherein: the dispensing device is configured to dispense the predefinable quantity of the liquid from the pressure chamber and to fill up said pressure chamber again after dispensing.
 23. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: the predefinable quantity of the liquid is 1 ml to 10 ml, in particular 4 ml to 6 ml.
 24. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: the dispensing device has a pump mechanism.
 25. The bottle cap according to claim 10, wherein: the pump mechanism is configured mechanically, electrically and/or piezoelectrically.
 26. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: a microcontroller having an external communication interface is provided, and the dispensing device is configured for communication with the microcontroller.
 27. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein: at least two liquid reservoirs are provided.
 28. A mug comprising a bottle cap according to one of claim
 1. 